Last year, rideshare incentives, bonuses, and promotions added added over $26,000 to my yearly income.
Both Uber and Lyft provide multiple ways for their drivers to maximize their profits through incentives, bonuses, and promotions.
The Uber quest incentive and the Lyft power driver bonus are the two biggest ways to boost your income as a rideshare driver.
Let’s detail what these are and which company wins in this category.
Table of Contents
(Click to jump to section)
- Uber Quest Incentive Explained
- Lyft Power Driver Bonus Explained
- Who Wins Uber Quest or Lyft Power Driver?
Uber Quest Incentive Explained
Every week Uber offers me an additional $300 - $500 if I complete my Uber quest incentive.
In 2017, I made $13,990 of the $18,555 I was offered from Uber quest incentives.
Uber offers this incentive to all of its drivers considering you are in the correct Uber market.
Click to access Uber's sign up bonus.
Uber Black and Uber SUV trips do not qualify (Premium Uber service).
In the San Francisco Bay Area rideshare market, you have two blocks of the week in which the incentive is offered.
Uber Quest Incentive Requirements
- Complete a Set # of Rides
Mon 4 am - Fri 4 am (4 Days)
- $95 = 35 Trips
- $215 = 80 Trips
Fri 4 am - Fri 4 am (3 Days)
- $100 = 25 Trips
- $295 = 75 Trips
Total Possible Quest Bonus
- $515 added to my weekly pay


Earn As Your Own Boss
Lyft Power Driver Bonus Explained
Like Uber, Lyft offers their drivers a similar weekly bonus; however, there are some key differences between the two weekly profit boosters.
The bonus ranges all the way up to $500 and you have all week to complete it.
Click to access Lyft's sign up bonus.
Lyft Power Driver Bonus Requirements
- Car is 2011 or Newer
- Maintain a 90% Acceptance Rate
- Complete a Set # of Rides
- Complete a Set # of Peak Rides
Example Image: Mon 5 am - Mon 5 am (7 Days)
(Maintain 90% Acceptance)
- $65 = 40 Total Rides. 25 Peak Rides.
- $145 = 70 Total Rides. 35 Peak Rides.
- $220 = 95 Total Rides. 45 Peak Rides.
- $415 = 145 Total Rides. 55 Peak Rides
What does maintaining a 90% acceptance rate mean?
This correlates to the rides that Lyft offers you that you either accept or deny. Every ride request you deny lowers your acceptance rate.
What are peak rides?
Peak rides are rides that are completed during "peak hours". At the beginning of each week, Lyft provides you with timeframes that your rides will count toward your peak ride count.

Last year, I did not receive a single Lyft Power Driver Bonus due to the age of my car.
This is one of the reason's I categorize myself as a full-time Uber driver and a part-time Lyft driver.
Make Money When You Want
Who's Wins Uber Quest or Lyft Power Driver?
Since I was unable to receive the Lyft power driver bonus I obviously have a bias toward the Uber quest incentive, but when looking a at the two options I think the answer is clear.
With the Lyft power driver bonus you have to complete a total number of rides and a total number of peak rides along with holding a 90% acceptance rate.
If your Lyft application bugged out on you and you missed a ride request this could cost you your whole bonus.
By maintaining a 90% acceptance rate, it also means you cannot deny multiple ride offers during primetime hours. During high demand times, I do not accept rides until I get the highest primetime rate possible in order to maximize my profit potential.
Related: 5 Tips To Maximize Your Uber and Lyft Earning
To put the icing on the cake, your car has to be 2011 or newer with Lyft which immediately removes many drivers from eligibility.
There are simply is too many requirements for the Lyft power driver bonus.
The Uber quest incentive is by far way easier to complete.
All you have to do it complete a set number of rides throughout two blocks of the week. No acceptance rate to maintain. No peak rides to complete. No year restriction on your car.
The only things I dislike about Uber quest is that its split into two periods through the week and that it only offers two different earnings throughout those periods.
I would like it to be set up with 4 different earning potentials like the Lyft power driver bonus.
20 trips = $$$... 40 trips = $$$... 60 Trip = $$$... 80 Trips = $$$
Overall, the Uber quest incentive is a definitive winner.
Who do you think wins? Uber or Lyft? Comment your opinions below.
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$100,100.41 $76,968.81 $52,477.46 $15,245.44 $7,210.00 $2,036.01 $23,131.60 $18,035.73 $874.10 $3,052.74 $1,044.03 $125.00 $13,011.02 $2,517.01 $4,398.10 $2,854.92 $1,277.99 $588.00 $1,375.00 $87,089.39 $34.90 $32.89 $44.40 $29.84 2,570 h 35 min 2,121 h 10 min 449 h 25 min 7,221 5,767 1,454 55,613 mi
Income Breakdown
Total Gross Income
Uber Earnings
Ride Earnings
Promotional Earnings
Uber Driver Referrals
Uber Tips
Lyft Earnings
Ride Earnings
Promotional Earnings
Lyft Tips
Lyft Passenger Referrals
Expense Breakdown
Total Expenses
Car Maintenance
Gas Expense
Car Insurance
Cellular Data Plan
Tickets/Fines
Car Depreciation
Net Profit Breakdown
Total Net Profit
Wage/Hr Breakdown
(Passenger & Driver Refferals Not Included in Calculations)
Total Gross Wage/Hr
Uber Gross Wage/Hr
Lyft Gross Wage/Hr
Total Net Wage/Hr
Hours, Trips, & Miles
Total Hours Worked
Uber Hours
Lyft Hours
Total Completed Trips
Uber Trips
Lyft Trips
Total Miles Driven

Sean Marsland
Sean Marsland is the Six Figure Driver. Currently, he is located in California in the Bay Area. He loves entrepreneurial opportunities. Apart from rideshare driving and website developing, he is into personal fitness and outdoor activities.